Shooting entire matches with your weak hand

[Classic_jon]

I have been contemplating doing this but I thought I would ask what some others thought first.

I have been looking at buying a left hand holster and shooting a couple of club matches with my "weak-hand" for practice. The idea came to me when one of our shooters broke his strong hand thumb and another hurt his wrist and had a lot of trouble. I also want to work on my off hand shooting to get better at it and one way to find out is to shoot an entire match "under stress" with the weak hand.

I also wanted to do it this way with a weak side holster so that there is not a lot of hand changes on the draw, reload and then hand change back to shoot, and then hand change back to holster for safety reasons.

Thoughts?

(edited for clarification to replace "off hand" with "weak hand" and "weak side")

Edited December 24, 2009 by Classic_jon

[JThompson]

I have been contemplating doing this but I thought I would ask what some others thought first.

I have been looking at buying a left hand holster and shooting a couple of club matches with my "off-hand" for practice. The idea came to me when one of our shooters broke his strong hand thumb and another hurt his wrist and had a lot of trouble. I also want to work on my off hand shooting to get better at it and one way to find out is to shoot an entire match "under stress" with the off hand.

I also wanted to do it this way with a weak side holster so that there is not a lot of hand changes on the draw, reload and then hand change back to shoot, and then hand change back to holster for safety reasons.

Thoughts?

I think it's a great idea for house matches. I wouldn't buy a holster for it though, just transfer the gun to the WH, we need to practice that anyway.. You could also just shoot with your SHO, The terms we use for "off hand" is WHO or weak hand only SHO strong hand only. Offhand in shooting means something else.

JT

Edited December 24, 2009 by JThompson

[chuckie]

I think that's an outstanding idea; I'm gonna work that out myself.

I like to train (outdoor range/not in a match) to draw, engage and reload with my weak hand from my carry (strong side AWB) holster.

Felt pretty spazzy at first, but hey- might need the muscle memory one night.

Edited December 24, 2009 by chuckie

[Rennie]

My Dad was left handed (I am right handed) and I used to use his holster setup and shoot matches with it and was suprised at how well I could do.

It did cause a debate once on a stage to be shot "weak hand only" when someone noticed I used what normally was my "strong hand".

Rennie.

[Classic_jon]

I have been contemplating doing this but I thought I would ask what some others thought first.

I also wanted to do it this way with a weak side holster so that there is not a lot of hand changes on the draw, reload and then hand change back to shoot, and then hand change back to holster for safety reasons.

Thoughts?

I think it's a great idea for house matches. I wouldn't buy a holster for it though, just transfer the gun to the WH, we need to practice that anyway.. You could also just shoot with your SHO, The terms we use for "off hand" is WHO or weak hand only SHO strong hand only. Offhand in shooting means something else.

JT

The main reason for the holster on the weak side is to prevent you from having to do that hand change for safety reasons. To me, The more hand changes you have, the higher the risk of a dropped gun.

and yes you are correct, I said Off hand and I meant weak hand.

I am almost ambidextrous. In meetings I will take notes with my left hand if I am bored to help stay awake and I used to "play" pool left handed... and still win most of the time, so to me, it is not my "weak hand" it is just the "not used as much hand" For some reason in saying that I keep thinking of the scene in Princess bride where he says "I am not left handed!"

[JThompson]

I have been contemplating doing this but I thought I would ask what some others thought first.

I also wanted to do it this way with a weak side holster so that there is not a lot of hand changes on the draw, reload and then hand change back to shoot, and then hand change back to holster for safety reasons.

Thoughts?

I think it's a great idea for house matches. I wouldn't buy a holster for it though, just transfer the gun to the WH, we need to practice that anyway.. You could also just shoot with your SHO, The terms we use for "off hand" is WHO or weak hand only SHO strong hand only. Offhand in shooting means something else.

JT

The main reason for the holster on the weak side is to prevent you from having to do that hand change for safety reasons. To me, The more hand changes you have, the higher the risk of a dropped gun.

and yes you are correct, I said Off hand and I meant weak hand.

I am almost ambidextrous. In meetings I will take notes with my left hand if I am bored to help stay awake and I used to "play" pool left handed... and still win most of the time, so to me, it is not my "weak hand" it is just the "not used as much hand" For some reason in saying that I keep thinking of the scene in Princess bride where he says "I am not left handed!"

You will also have to consider how you are going to release the mag.

[Classic_jon]

I have been contemplating doing this but I thought I would ask what some others thought first.

I also wanted to do it this way with a weak side holster so that there is not a lot of hand changes on the draw, reload and then hand change back to shoot, and then hand change back to holster for safety reasons.

Thoughts?

I think it's a great idea for house matches. I wouldn't buy a holster for it though, just transfer the gun to the WH, we need to practice that anyway.. You could also just shoot with your SHO, The terms we use for "off hand" is WHO or weak hand only SHO strong hand only. Offhand in shooting means something else.

JT

The main reason for the holster on the weak side is to prevent you from having to do that hand change for safety reasons. To me, The more hand changes you have, the higher the risk of a dropped gun.

and yes you are correct, I said Off hand and I meant weak hand.

I am almost ambidextrous. In meetings I will take notes with my left hand if I am bored to help stay awake and I used to "play" pool left handed... and still win most of the time, so to me, it is not my "weak hand" it is just the "not used as much hand" For some reason in saying that I keep thinking of the scene in Princess bride where he says "I am not left handed!"

You will also have to consider how you are going to release the mag.

Valid point, my hands are big enough that I can hit the release on my XD without changing my grip in my strong hand so it should be simple enough to re-train and hit it the same way with my left hand.

Also on that point you made me think that I will need to practice grabbing the slide with my right hand to rack a round from the slide lock as the release is on the left side of the pistol and if it is in my left hand...that could be an issue....

[P.E. Kelley]

I used to shoot the local indoor winter matches using the "other side" until I was no longer local. Good fun. Great practice.

Buying right handed gear was fun because "you guys" had a broad selection available, used and cheap!

My advice to you righty's is to slap on some sinister gear and get to it!

Patrick